Fuel vaporizer for explosive engines



Oct. 30, 1923.

M. BECK FUEL VAPORIZER? FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES v Filed Feb. 5, i920 r2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'Oct 30, 1923. 1,472,264

M. BECK FUEL VAPORIZER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed Feb. 5, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2l Patented. ct.. 3Q, 1921i..-

nuire ifi-72364 menant nnen, orA MINNEAPOLIS, untilunsern.A

FUEL VlORIZER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGITES.

Application ledebruary 5, 1920. Serial No'. 356,384.

To afl/ whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat l, MICHAEL Buen, a citizen ot the' United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fuel Va porizers for Explosive Engines; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make. and use the same.

My present invention relates to internal combustion or explosive engines and has for ils object to provide an Iimproved fuel vaporizer therefor, whereby the heavier hydrocarbon, such as kerosene, may be efficiently used, both in starting and in running the engine.

In a broad in the nature yof a modification or refinement of the fuel heater for' explosive engines dis closed and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States 1,214,501, granted to M. and N. B. Beck, of date, February cui, 1917.

In the fuel vaporizer.4 of the` present invention, there is not only a -novel relative varrangement of vapor and exhaust passages, but there is incorporated therein, also, an electric heater for generating and heating the vapor, and this heater, as a'further and important novel feature, is connected in the ignition circuit, so that it will be brought into action when the ignition circuit is closed and will be cut out of action when the ignition circuit is open.

As a further and important novel feature,

the fuel supply conduit to or in the vapor` izer is provided with a normally closed valve adapted to be magnetically opened and the heating element is utilized as a solenoid for opening the said valve when the ignition circuit is closed and for permitting said valve to close when -theignition circuit is open.

' In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View partly in side elevation, partly in vertical section and partly in dotted diagram showing the manner in which my improved vaporizer is adapted to be connectcd to an explosive engine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-1-2 sense, the present invention is spiral flanges 20 t upper end is closed by a detachable oi Fig. 1, showing the vaporizer proper in vertical section, and also indicating diagrammatically, the manner in which its heating element is connected in the ignition circuit of the engine;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section takenon the line 3-3 lof Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken approximately on the line v5 5 ot Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragrnentar perspectlve showing a portion of the coilsed heating element and a 'fragment of the insulating core aroun which it is wound.

0f the parts of the engine illustrated, the numeral7 indicates a cylinder casting, the numeral 8 the intake manifold, the numeral 9 the exhaust manifold and the numeral 10 tfhpdvapor intake tube of said intake mani- Of the parts ofthe ignition system, the numeral 11 indicates the timer, the numeral 12 the battery or source of electrical energy, the numeral 13 the primary leads, the. numeral 14 the secondary wires, the numeral 15 the switch inv one`of the primary leads 13, and the numeral 16 the coil box.

The vaporizer proper has a cylindrical outer -shell 17, the upper end of .which is connected to the exhaust manifold 9, and the lower end of which is connected to an exhaust pipe 18.

Located within the outer shell 17 is an inner metallic shell 19 that is spaced from said outer shell, but'is". rovided with outstanding at lcontact with the interior of said outer shell. The inner shell 19, as shown, has an integral lower head and its head /22 shown as screw-threaded therein. crease the cross section of the annular exhaust space between the outer shell 17 and inner shell 19, and also for another important purpose which will presently appear, the inward shell 19 is downwardly tapered;

-All but the uppermost portion of the inner shell 19 is lined with a tapered tubular shell 23 of porcelain or other material that is a good electrical insulator.

Located within the kinsulating shell 23, concentric therewith, but spaced therefrom is a straight or non-tapered tube 24 of porcelain or other material that is an electrical insulator. rllhe tube 24 is closed at its lower end, except tor a fuel delivery port 25 which,

To inwhen opened, delivers the fluid fuel directly into the bottom of the inner shell 19. The tube 24 is supported in the position stated by means which will presently be noted.

Inserted into the insulating tube 24 and extending nearly to the bottom thereof is a metal fuel delivery pipe 26 which, at its upper end, is connected to a fuel supply pipe 27 that extends outward through one side of the vaporizer and is connected to a suitable source of supply', such as an elevated supply tank.

The vapor chamber formed in the upper end of the inner tube 19 is connected to one end of a vapor delivery pipe 28 that also extends out through one side of the vaporizer.

The port 25, in the lower end of the tube 24 is normally closed by a' needle-pointed valve 29, the reduced stem of which, as shown, projects upward into the lower end of the pipe 26, but does not closely fit the same. A light coiled sprirg 30, compressed between the lower end ofthe pipe 26 and the shouldered head 29 of the valve 29 assists in holding the valve 29 normally in a port closing position.

rlhe novel electrical heating element is in the form of a hat thin sheet metal spiral blade 31 that fits the conical annular or tapered space between the insulating shell 23 and insulatingr tube 24, and, preferably, is engaged with a spiral thread formed in the exterior of the latter. By reference, particularly, to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the spiral blade 31 has convolutions that increase in horizontal width, progressively, from the lower to the upper portion thereof, so that the said spiral element will have the greatest electrical resistance at its lower portion, and progressively decreasing electrical resistance toward its upper portion. This is importantl because, under the action' of an electrical current passed there-through, the heating element may be hottest at its lowest portion, or otherwise stated, will be made progressively hotter and hotter from its upper to its lower extremity. In fact, the small cross section of this spiral heating element will cause the same to beso h1ghly heated that it may be advisable Vto make the last two or three convolutins 31, of said element, of platinum which will stand white heat without damage. The said spiral element 19 will be very thin, to wit, only about s the thickness of ordinary paper, so that it will act as a resistance coil for the ignition circuit. The main bod portion of said heating element will pre erably be of any of the well known alloys, such as used for making heating elements in electrical heaters and which alloy has a'high electrical resistance necessary to the heating thereof by the electric current.

Attention is here called to the fact ythat the spiral heating element 31 will also act as a solenoid, which, when energized, will magnetically lift the valve 29 and cause the same to open the fuel port 25, Said valve 29, or some part thereof, must, of course, be made of steel7 iron, or other magnetic metal.

It is also important to note that in the preferred arrangement illustrated, the convolutions of the spiral element 31 are given increasing spread or pitch, progressively, from its lower toward its upper end. This, together with the increasing horizontal width of the spiral forms a gas or vapor passage that has progressively increasing cross section and conducting capacity from its lower toward its upper extremity, and, as an important feature, as will presently bc noted.

The primary lead wires 13 of the ignition system are connected, one to the upper extremity of the spiral heating element 31 and the other to the lower extremity of said heating element 31., the said latter noted lead 13, as shown in Fig. 2, being brought down through and embedded in the inner insulating tube 24.

The vapor outlet pipe 28 is provided with a suitable valve 32 for controlling the flow of vapor therethrough, and the fuel sup ply pipe 27 is provided with a suitable valve 33 for controlling the supply of fluid fuel through the vaporizer.

The said pipe 28 is tonnected to the bottom of a casing 34 that is directly connected to the intake tube 10 of the intake manifold 8 of the engine. This casing 34 is provided with air intake ports and has an inwardly opening check valve 36 that normally closes the inta-ke from the vapo-r delivery tube 23. As shown, this valve 36 has a stem 37 that works through a sleeve 38 adjustably screwthreade-d through the top of the casing 34. The numeral 39 indicates a light coiled spring surrounding the stem 37 and compressed between the valve 36 and the sleeve 38. By adjustments of the sleeve 38, the tension'of the spring 39 on valve 36 may be varied, so as to Vary the amount of vapor in propo-rtion to air, that will be drawn into ycasing 34. The said casing 34 and parts just described constitute an air supplying device for reducing the richness of the hydrocarbon vapor the proper extent to produce an explosive hydrocarbon vapor of the de sired richness for delivery into the engine.

Operation.

The operation of the device described, briefly summarized, is substantially as follows:

Under the suction produced when the engine is in action, partial vacuum will be maintained in the top of the inner shell 19, so that a suction will be produced in theV spiral vapor conduit formed between the convolutions ofl the spiral blade 31, and this suction will draw` upward the hydrocarbon liquid or vapor, providing, of course, that valve 29 is raised so as to open port 25. This valve will thus be raised when the switch 15 is set to close the ignition circuit; and the instant that this ignition circuit is closed, the spiral blade or heating element 31 will be made hot, and, as already indicate-d, especially hot at its lower portion where the. hy?

at quite high temperature, but, of course,

not at such high temperature as to cause the same to ignite. All the while that the vapor is moving 'upward through the said spiral conduit or channel, it will also be subjected to heat radiated from the exhaust from the engine, which, latter is caused to. take a spiral travel between the spiral radiating blade or langeQO.

This vaporizer is, therefore, adapted to generate hydrocarbon vapors from kerosene, or even from the heavier hydro-carbon liquid, and to produce anl initial vapor for `starting the engine, as well as for running the same after it has been started.

' What I claim is:

1. A fuel vaporizer forV explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a vaporizing chamber, a fuel delivery pipe having a port opening into said vaporizing chamber, a valve normally closing said port, and electro-,magnetic mea-ns 'fo-r moving said valve into a port opening position, said electromagnetic means comprising a helical heating plate.

2. A fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a` vaporizing chamber, a fuel delivery pipe having a port opening'into said vaporizing chamber, a valve normally closing said port, and a magnet operative when energized, to move said valve into a. port opening position, in combination with the ignition system of the engine, the said magnet being connected in the circuits therewith so that said valve will be held in a port opening position when the ignition circuit is closed, said magnet comprising a helical plate forming a fuel conduit.

A fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a vaporizing chamber and an elcctric heating element in said vaporizing chamber. in combination with the ignition system of the engine, said heating element being connected inthe ignition circuits so that thesaid heating element will be made hot when the ignition circuit is closed, said hp'ating element comprising a thin helical p ate. y

. 4. A fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a vaporizing chamber and an electric heating element yin said vaporizing' chamber, in combination with the ignition system of the engine, said heating element being connected in the ignition circuits so that the said heating element will be made hot when' the ignition circuit is closed, the said heating element being of spiral form and "affording also a spiral vapor conduit.

5. Av fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a vaporizing chamber and -an electric heating element in said vaporizing chamber, in combination with the ignition system ot' the engine, said heating element being connected in the ignition circuits so that the said heating element will be made hot when the ignition circuitl is closed, the said heating element being of spiral form and'ai'ording also a spiral vapor conduit, and the convolutions of said spiral heating element having progressively increased width and progressively increased pitch in an upward direction.

.6,f A vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing interposed in the exhaust pipe ofl an engine and having an exhaust gas passage and a spiral vaporizng passage, the convolutions of which latter have progressively increasing width and pro# gressively increasing pitch in the direction of the passage of fuel therethrough.

7. A fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising a casing having an exhaust gas conduit and a vaporizing chamber and an electric heating element in said vaporizing chamber, in combination with the ignition system of the engine, said heating element being connected in the ignition circuits so.

that the said heating element will be made hot when the ignition circuit is closed, and said gas conduit surrounding said Vaporizing chamber and having means for connection to the exhaust manifold of the engine and. having spiralribs connected to said vaporizing chamber. v

8. A fuel vaporizer for explosive engines comprising inner and outer metal shells spaced to afford an exhaust passage, of a tapered-lining tube of insulating material tting the interior of said inner metal shell, a. tube of insulating material extended through said lining tube concentric therewith andE having at its lower end ,a port opening'into thel lower end of said inner metal shell, a fuel supply pipe leading through said inner insulating tube to the port thereof, and a thin sheet metal spiral ol progressively increasing Width Wound in the space between saicl'lining tube and'eential insulating tube and affording a spiral ieporizing passage of the progressively increasing Gross section, said inner metal sliell having e vapor delivery pipe extended from its upper portion.

9. A fuel vapoiizer 'for explosive engines eonlpiising inner and outer metal 'shells spaced to Milord an exhaust passage, ot e tapered lining; tube ot insulating materiel fitting the interior ot' said inner metal shell, tnbe of insulating material extended` through seiellining tube concentric therewith and leaving at its lowei enel e 'poit opine-ingr into tlie lowei enel of saiel inneiI nietal sliell5 e fuel supply pipe ending through seitl innei` insulating tube tlie poet, tlnei'eo'l, and :i tliin sheet metal spiral of pogi'essively increasing width Wound in the space between seid lining; tube and el insulating tnbe and ett-.fouling n spinal vapoiizing passage ot tlie piogressivelv ineieesinf cross sections Seidl innei1 metal shell lieving e vapor fleliveiy pipe extended 'from its uppeiA portion, e valve in the lmveim portion ot seiil innei` insnlzitin' tube normally enel en elec e circuit including the seifl nietel spinal Wlieieby tlie letter is insulated as a.. beating element zin lies e solenoicl inove suini valve into e. pont opening; position.

` il tuel veponizinf eieviee 'for en internal combustion engine comprising" lielieel plete ot metal constituting en *elecM tiieel eonflnetoi", e casing at each sitle ot seid plete teeming e, helieel passage foi` tlie uel, seieV plete alsov being;I constructed enl eiieiigecl to teem et fuel cont/tollingu solenoi l. ll. A AEnel vepoiizei for explosive engines comprising en elongate@ veporizing cilena-- ben, e 'fuel ileliveiy pipe extending longitnelinelly of seni chamber lmving e pont et closingn tlne 'fuel port tlieeoi.A

Lemme one enel opening into said ve-porizing enembei, e; valve controlling said port, a solenoid for said vepoi'izing Chamber adapted to Control seid valve., a heating chamber surrouncling seicl vepoiizing chamber and Connected to the exhaust, of the engine et its enil remote from tlie end of said vepoitizing ehembei having seiel port tlieiein.

l2 The stiuetui'e set forth in claim ll, said. port enel valve extending axially ot said fuel tleliveiy pipe.

13. The stiuetuie set toitli in eluim l1, seid vnpoiizing chamber being tapered to,-

Wafd one enel and seid solenoid eo-inpii :ilielieel plete 'forming' e helical pes. tlnfougflt said elieinloei..

lll. The strnetui'e set. forth in elnim i3.) the piteli of the eonvointions ot seid lieliezil plete 'increasing toward the einge enel oit said vaooiizing chamber.,

l5. l t'uel vaipoiizei 'tot explosive engines eoinpising en elongateel t'iustoconical vepoi'izing elmnibei', zi tnel delivery pipe extending' axially et sziifl eliinnbei new ine` en wiel port :it one enti opening il seiel vepoiizingf elieinben a valiY lisposeil axially et sei@ pipe toi' conteoseid pont, e solenoid extenfl' tibont saicl pipe anti in eeicl vi-ipoi'izinzn enuinbei e ougtiont time lengtli tl'ieeot to? controlling seid valve, seid solenoid constituting n.. beating element, and e eliainbei suiiounclingf seid. vepoiining elieinbei and lieving n connection to the exhaust manifold ot t-le ngine et. is nfliieli is eclieeent tlie enel ot tbe viiporizing chamber remote :fiom seid poet enel velve.

ln testimony whereof 'l e-.'iin my' signature in piesenee oit two Witnesses.

MlCl-LEL Uli.

l/Vitnessee:

Emmen G. BAUMANN, Hemi? Krieonn., 

